Callers Give School Board Earful About Administrator

Everything from a hometown person to an outsider, not to mention someone who can cut the budget and take a major pay cut.

That's what callers to a special Orange County school hot line said during the past week.

The School Board established the hot line to get opinions on a person to replace Superintendent James Schott, who will resign in August.

Two callers offered a simple way to save the district thousands of dollars that would be used for a national search: Hire Sue Saltvick, Schott's executive secretary.

''I think that his secretary would be a good candidate for the job,'' one caller said. ''I mean, she makes his speeches, all of his messages and the whole nine yards, so I would like to see her get a shot at it.''

Saltvick said ''no thanks'' to that idea. ''I wouldn't have his job for all the money in the world. I like to go home in the afternoon and sleep at night.''

While the call-in was designed to solicit comments on the new superintendent, many callers used the opportunity to vent frustrations about taxes and the superintendent's $114,678 salary.

Some callers directed their criticism toward the School Board.

''We feel that some of them need to be replaced rather than the superintendent,'' said one caller.

Added another caller: ''I think, for the good of the districts, the School Board member positions should be limited to one term.''

The callers also showed strong support for abandoning the national search and giving the job to Executive Deputy Superintendent Don Shaw, an Orlando native who has been with the district for 29 years.

Of the 85 callers through mid-day Thursday, 17 supported Shaw. Last month, the board voted against giving him the job without a national search.

Another nine callers said the district should look for a superintendent outside Orange County. Five callers said they would prefer an elected, rather than appointed, superintendent.

But the prevailing mood on the phone-in was dissatisfaction with what callers believe are steep school taxes and a perception that the district is wasting money. Several callers said the superintendent's salary is too high, and at least 20 complained about administrative and other costs.

''There's going to be a revolt,'' said one caller. ''They're (school administrators) going to deliver or else they're not going to get any more money.''